Shelby County Today

08/09/2018

Joyce Dorris age 85, of Garrison, Texas died Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in Garrison, Texas. She was born December 26, 1932 in Dallas, Texas.

Funeral service will be at 1:00pm, Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Arlam Baptist Church, Garrison, Texas with Bro. Darrell Pollard officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Garrison, Texas.

Visitation will be from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Arlam Baptist Church, Garrison, Texas before service.

Survivors:

Sons:
Michael Watson Clark
James Stacey Dorris

Daughters:
Rubye Laree Dorris Wiggins and husband Mike
Susan Parrish
Teresa Diane Conner
Lynna Beth Hale & husband Randy

Sister: Sandy Lawson Naturch

Brother: Jim Burgay

Grandchildren: Karla Stevens, Dennis Clark, Caroline Garner and husband Ryan, Amber Vasilenko and husband Viktor, Amanda Armendariz and husband Kahli, Blythe Squires and husband Chad, Sarah Parrish, Christopher Tatum, Kimberly Tatum, Mickey Conner

10 Great-Grandchildren

Services are entrusted to Garrison Funeral Home, Garrison, Texas.

08/06/2018

Lola Mae Davis, 85, of Center, passed away Monday, August 6, 2018, at her residence.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at Watson & Sons Chapel with Bro. Rusty Hall officiating.  Interment will follow at Strong Cemetery in Huxley.

Mrs. Davis was born December 12, 1932, in Shelbyville, to Frank Denby and Iva Scarborough Denby.  She enjoyed reading, gardening and cooking.  Her favorite times were those spent with family and friends.  Mrs. Davis was a member of Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church in Huxley.

She is survived by
Husband of 61 years: Buck Davis of Center

Children:
Lynn Davis and wife, Yolanda, of Center
Joyce Dean and husband, Junior, of Shelbyville
Howard Davis and wife, Patty, of Center

Grandchildren:
Tim Parker and wife, Emily, of Minden, Louisiana
Brittany Foster and husband, Matt, of Center
Josh Davis and wife, Lindsay, of Center
Clayton Dean of Shelbyville

Great Grandchildren:
Carson Parker
Case Parker
Roman Foster
Ivy Foster
Raylee Davis
Hayes Davis

Sisters:
Merle Farmer and husband, John, of Shreveport, Louisiana
Ola Bell Arney of Adrian, Missouri

Preceded in death by
Parents: Frank Denby and Iva Scarborough Denby
Sisters: Annie Ruth Coots, Fronie Moore

Pallbearers will be Tim Parker, Josh Davis, Danny Scarborough, Matt Foster, Billy Davis and Sonny Davis.  Honorary pallbearers will be Carson Parker, Clay Dean, John Koltonski and Roman Foster.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church, 177 CR 2450, Shelbyville, Texas 75973.

A special thanks to Affinity Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of our wife and mother.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

08/02/2018

Kathryn Johnson Griffin, 91, of Garrison, Texas, passed away Thursday, August 2, 2018, in Nacogdoches.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, August 6, 2018, at Garrison Funeral Home in Garrison. Private graveside service will be held at Cold Springs Cemetery in Garrison with Bro. Darrell Pollard officiating. 

Mrs. Griffin was born April 3, 1927, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to John R. “Bud” Johnson and Helen Hesser Johnson. Her hobbies included gardening, working puzzles, and caring for her family. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mrs. Griffin was a member of Southside Baptist Church.

She is survived by
Children:
Robert Griffin of Garrison, Texas
John Griffin and wife, Glenna, of Garrison, Texas
Max Griffin Jr. of Shreveport, Louisiana
Kathy Petersen and husband, Reid, of Elysian Fields, Texas
Ginger Gwinn of Shreveport, Louisiana

12 Grandchildren

14 Great Grandchildren

Siblings:
Phillip Johnson of Arizona
William Johnson of Canadian, Oklahoma

Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends

Preceded in death by
Husband: Max R. Griffin, Sr.
Great Grandson: Jackson Glen Griffin
Parents: John R. “Bud” Johnson and Helen Hesser Johnson
Siblings: Roy Johnson, Gertrude Westbrook, Imogene Gaiennie, Dorothy Morgan

Pallbearers will be Jason Griffin, John Griffin Jr., Taylor Griffin, Christian McCoy, Drew Hermes, Colton Barrett
Honorary pallbearer will be Jason Barrett.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Mrs. Griffin to a charity of your choice.

Services are under the direction of Garrison Funeral Home.

08/02/2018

Josef Fitzgerald Whittaker, 52 of Houston, formerly of Timpson, passed away Friday in Galveston.

Funeral service is Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 11am at Friendship Baptist Church, Tenaha, Texas with interment at Friendship Cemetery and Rev. Rayford Caraway officiating.

He is survived by:

Son, Joey (Jakara) Mardis of Houston

Grandson, Jacoby Mardis of Houston

Granddaughter, Zenee Mardis of Houston

Mother, Melva Colbert of Houston

Father, Joe D. Whittaker of Houston

Brother, Mario Bussey of South Carolina

Sisters:
TAmara (Albert) Parker of Houston
Vermella (Cedric) Thomas of Houston

Services entrusted to Community Funeral Home of Timpson, Texas.

08/01/2018

Joe Travis Williams, 87, of Timpson, Texas, passed away on July 28, 2018 in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was born on June 25, 1931 in Corsicana, Texas to Joe Travis Williams Sr. and Gladys (Richards) Williams. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Joe grew up in Raymondville, Texas and attended Raymondville High School. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Joe served on the USS Bausell Destroyer. He married the love of his life, Avie Ruth Rhodes, in 1956, spending over 49 years with her until her passing in 2005. Joe was an avid football fan. He was a Houston Oiler and Texans fan. He taught his children how to bass fish and enjoyed the time spent with them while doing it. Joe loved the Lord and was a faithful member of St. Mary’s of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Timpson, Texas. 

Joe is survived by:
His son: Joe Travis Williams Jr., of Houston, Texas

Daughters: 
Jolene Williams of Houston, Texas
Annette Parker of Pasadena, Texas
Arianna Williams of Kerrville, Texas

Brother: Bill Williams and wife Mavis of Port Lavaca, Texas

Sister: Mavis Williams of Illinois

Grandchildren: 
Kelly Lewis and husband Richard
Kristen Newton and husband Greg
Joseph Carroll

Great-grandson: Mickey Lewis

A host of family and friends that will miss him dearly.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Avie Ruth Rhodes Williams; and parents. 

The family is being served by Taylor Funeral Home in Timpson, Texas.

To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.taylorfh.net.

08/01/2018

Bobby Gene Spruiell passed away Sunday, July 29, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the age of 75. Bob was born January 8, 1943 in Levelland, Texas to Fred and Pauline Noveta Spruiell.

Bob grew up and attended school in Levelland. He served in the US Air Force. He married Raquel Torres on August 2, 1969 in Levelland. Though he worked in several professions, his passion was serving underprivileged children.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Raquel; his daughter, Novita; parents Fred and Pauline Spruiell; two brothers, Bill Spruiell and JC Spruiell; and three sisters, Trudy McArthur, Shelly Kelsay, and Linda Hoyt.

Those left to mourn his passing include son Chris Spruiell and wife Cari of Georgetown; daughter Rebekah Spruiell and partner Nicole Ordoyne of Gretna, Louisiana; two grandchildren, Maya and Riley Spruiell of Georgetown; three brothers, Howard Spruiell of Center, and Freddie and Ronnie Spruiell of Levelland; two sisters, Juanita Leonard of Denison and Jan Blankenship of Granite Shoals; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private memorial at a later date.

07/27/2018

Jordan Chase Shisler, 8, of Greenwood, Texas, passed away on July 23, 2018 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on June 9, 2010 in Nacogdoches, Texas to Jordan Dean Shisler and Courtney Carol Cylene Swanson. A memorial service will be held at 5:00 PM on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Son Windham officiating. 

Chase grew up in Center. He attended Greenwood ISD where he made lots of friends and impacted the fellow students and staff while there. He was a very personable child and wanted to be friends with everyone he met. Chase would be very concerned when someone did not want to share a friendship with him. It was often hard for him to understand why other people did not have a heart like his. Chase was an active young man. He played baseball and was in the Boy Scouts. He also enjoyed attending AWANAS at Greenwood Baptist Church. Chase’s faith was an integral part of his life even at such a young age. He had a deep, strong faith in the Lord and loved Him. He was faithful to pray every day and each night before bed, he would make sure to remind his whole family if they happened to forget. Chase always talked about heaven and was curious what the angels would look like. It’s as if God knew that he was too good for this earth, and it was time to take him to meet those angels he so often dreamed about.

While Chase exemplified characteristics well beyond his years, he was still a kid at heart. He wrestled and played all the time. He enjoyed activities and fun just like any other eight-year-old. He loved video games, watching You-Tube, riding go-karts and playing with his cousins. He also liked to swim as long as he could touch the bottom, and even then he would sometimes question its stability. Chase had also taken a great interest in science and magic. Like most kids, he liked superheroes, the Hulk was his favorite; however, he actually was more fond of the villains. There was something about the mystery and challenge that intrigued Chase. The Joker was his favorite villain.

Chase was an exceptional boy who breathed life into the world around him. He was a happy child, full of light and laughter. You rarely saw him without a smile on his face and that smile was so contagious. His silly dances and singing would brighten any situation. His love for his family was indescribable. He was a true Momma’s boy, but he had a deep admiration for his Daddy…both of them. The amount of passion, heart, spunk and joy that was packed into such a small person is rarely found in adults, but Chase had it all. He made the world a better place.

Chase is survived by:

Parents:
Jordan Shisler of Center, Texas
Courtney and A.J. Green of Greenwood, Texas

Grandparents: 
Chad Earl Swanson and Rebecca Sinclair Swanson of Odessa, Texas
Jerry Elswick of Shelbyville, Texas
Paula Sanaugustine of Center, Texas
Jamie Nelson of Bryan, Texas

Great-Grandparents:
Dean and Pauletta Shisler of Center, Texas

Great-Great Grandmother:
Helen Landers of Magnolia, Texas

Aunts and Uncles:
Amber and Josh Marrs of San Antonio, Texas
Ronnie Wade Myers of Alvin, Texas
Jose and Angelica Paredes of Center, Texas
Caleb Shisler of Center, Texas
Amanda and Kwi Gary of Plano, Texas
Josh and Dori Elswick of Waxahachie, Texas
Cheyenne and Kylee Moore of Center, Texas
Regina and Allen Ramsey of Trinity, Texas
Dakota and Ashley Poindexter of Center

A host of other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by grandparents, Betty Ruth Elswick, George Shisler, Robert and Johnnie Bolton and Carol Dawn Cain; great-great grandparents, John Paul and Gladys Sanford; and uncle, Chase Swanson. 

The family is being served by Mangum Funeral Home in Center, Texas. To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfh.net.

07/25/2018

Randy Lewis Bush, 63, of Timpson, passed away July 25, 2018, at his residence.

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, July 27, 2018, at First United Pentecostal Church in Center. Interment will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Center with Bro. Andy Wilson and Charles Bush officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to service.

Mr. Bush was born March 22, 1955, to Coye D. and Ima Jean Bush. He was the fifth child of eight children. Randy attended Center High School. He was a member of Center First UPC Church. He was a heavy equipment operator most of his life and took pride in his work. 

Randy married the love of his life Margaret in 1974. Together, they had their only child, Mandy. He loved her more than anything. He had a son-in-law that he thought of his own and three grandchildren, Macayla, Macade and Mason that he cherished more than anything. 

Randy enjoyed hunting, fishing and working cattle.  He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by
Wife: Margaret Sims Bush

Daughter and Son-in-law: Mandy and Eric Perry

Grandchildren:
Macayla Leigh Perry
Samuel Macade Perry
Mason Lewis Perry

Brothers and Sisters-in-law:
Bubba Bush and wife, Nancy
Dewayne Bush

Sisters and Brothers-in-law:
Beverly Slatter and husband, Basel
Sandra Walsh and husband, Bubba
Tammy Ramirez and husband, Amando
Kim Jarjoura and husband, Jeff

Sisters-in-law: 
Sylvia Clifton
Cynthia (Tammy) Bailey
Thea Tanner

Special caretakers and friends:
Richard Hill
Victoria Duvon
Affinity Hospice and staff
Mrs. Rita
Mrs. Tammy
Miss Mallory
Mrs. Evelyn

Numerous nieces and nephews

Preceded in death by
Parents: Coye D. and Ima Jean Bush
Grandparents: Lewis and Della Livingston, Elton and Cordell Bush
Sister: Brenda Bush Wright
Nephew: Nathan Davis

Pallbearers will be Charles Bush, Colt Bush, Kyle Bush, Dewayne Bailey, Kevin Bush and Brent Slatter.  Honorary pallbearers will be State Representative Chris Paddie, Brandon Slatter, Trae George, Clay Bush and Andy Ramirez.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

07/25/2018

J.W. Adams, 90, of Center, passed away Monday, July 23, 2018, in Center.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center with Dr. Jack Smith officiating.  Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.  Visitation will be held prior to service, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Mr. Adams was born March 30, 1928, in Center, to Johnny B Adams and E.V. Barber Adams.  He served in the United States Army where he received the rank of Sergeant First Class. Mr. Adams worked for AT&T for 39 years. His hobbies included woodworking, farming, ranching, fishing and spending time with family and friends.  Mr. Adams was a member of North Jericho Missionary Baptist Church and the Pioneers of AT&T.

He is survived by
Children: 
Wayne Adams and wife, Rusty, of Dallas, Texas
Sheilah Reeves and husband, Bob, of Center, Texas

Grandchildren:
Daniel Adams and wife, Marie-Claude, of Kihei, Hawaii
Cassie Adams of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Aaron Adams and wife, Sapphire, of Los Angeles, California
Chelsea Reeves of Newport Beach, California
Abby Boyd and husband, Weston, of Georgetown, Texas
Adam Reeves of Austin, Texas

Great Grandson: Luke William Adams of Kihei, Hawaii

Great Grandson to be: William Blaine Boyd of Georgetown, Texas

Aunt: Geraldine Johnson

Longtime friend: Norma Rudd of Center, Texas

Her dear family:
Kemi Faulkenberry and husband, Jerry, of Center, Texas
Keli Chandler and husband, David, of Center, Texas
Hannah Faulkenberry of Center, Texas
Josiah Faulkenberry and wife, Randi Kay, of Center, Texas
Brooke Fletcher of Houston, Texas
Dawson Chandler of Center, Texas
Rylan Chandler of Center, Texas
Wyatt Faulkenberry of Center, Texas
Brylie Ross of Center, Texas
Camille Crowe of Center, Texas

Preceded in death by
Wife: Wilma Jean Adams 
Parents: Johnny B Adams and E.V. Hughes Adams

Pallbearers will be Daniel Adams, Aaron Adams, Adam Reeves, Weston Boyd, Vernon Pajarito and Josiah Faulkenberry. Honorary pallbearers will be Rylan Chandler and Dawson Chandler.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com